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Marion County Teacher Chosen To Be Astronaut

NASA is not commenting publicly, but NewsChannel 2 has learned that
a central Florida teacher has made the final cut to be a teacher in space.

Marion County school officials confirm that Dunnellon Middle School
teacher Joe Acaba will leave at the end of the school year to train to be an astronaut.

More than 1,600 teachers applied to NASA's teacher-in-space program.

Now, NASA has narrowed that list to three finalists, and Acaba learned Monday he was one of them.

NASA told Acaba not to talk until the official announcement on May
6, but in a community as small as Dunnellon, word that one of their
own was about to be an astronaut got around fast.

"We'll be really sad when he leaves, but it will be really cool," said Kaitlin Strobel, one of Acaba's students.

Reached by telephone, school principal Juan Cordova said Acaba's
students and everyone at the school are thrilled.

Back in November after he made the first cut, Acaba talked about the excitement of even being considered.

"I feel very fortunate," he said.

He also talked about how much he loves teaching.

"Nothing else felt right until I started teaching," Acaba said. "Once I started teaching, I knew this was what I wanted to do."

Now, he anticipates using the experiences of flying in space as a
teaching tool.

"I think that one of NASA's goals is to inspire the next generation," Acaba said. "You may have scientists that are up in space, but they may have a hard time relating that information to the kids. That's where the teacher comes in. If we experience it then we can take it back with us to the classroom."

NASA spokespersons did not return phone calls seeking comment.

Acaba is scheduled to leave after this school year to begin his
training to be an astronaut.

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